Graduate Student Orientation

Summer 2026

Graduate Student Orientation for Fall 2026 will be a combination of remote sessions throughout summer, as well as an in-person component right before classes start. 

Virtual Orientations

*All times are PDT (Pacific Daylight Time), or UTC-07:00

Program Welcome and Degree Requirements (Required)

  • Host: Prof. Frank Loge
  • Date: August 10, 2026
  • Time: 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
  • Join on Zoom

All About Funding (Optional)

  • Host: Lauren Worrell
  • Date: August 11, 2026
  • Time: 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
  • Join on Zoom

Non-Engineering Degree Background Course Requirement (Optional) 

  • Host: Lauren Worrell
  • Date: August 13, 2026
  • Time: 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
  • Join on Zoom

Area Advising (Required)

Attend the session for your graduate area, listed below.

  • Environmental Engineering and Water Resources Engineering
  • Host: Prof. Heather Bischel and Prof. Fabian Bombardelli
    Date: September 2, 2026
    Time: 10:00 a.m.
    Join on Zoom
  • Geotechnical Engineering
  • Host: Prof. Gardner
    Date: August 18, 2026
    Time: 10:00 a.m.
    Join on Zoom
  • Structural Engineering and Structural Mechanics
  • Host: Prof. Kunnath
    Date: August 17, 2026
    Time: 9:30 a.m.
    Join on Zoom
  • Transportation Engineering
  • Host: Prof. YueYue Fan
    Date: August 25, 2026
    Time: 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
    Join on Zoom
  • Water Resources Engineering and Environmental Engineering
  • Host: Prof. Fabian Bombardelli and Prof. Heather Bischel
    Date: September 2, 2026
    Time: 10:00 a.m.
    Join on Zoom

In-Person Orientation (Required)

  • Date: September 22, 2026
  • Time: 9:00 a.m. –  5:00 p.m.

Please plan to attend our In-Person CEE Grad Orientation all day on September 22. Sessions will include the faculty welcome, staff presentations, current student panel, area advising, and opportunities socialize with the faculty, students and staff in the department. The full agenda will be sent at a later date. 


UC Davis Orientations 

  • Teaching Assistant (TA) Orientation
  • Priority deadline: September 4

    Registration is OPEN. All students who are hired as Teaching Assistants (TAs) are required to attend the Campus TA Orientation. All students are highly encouraged to attend the TA orientation now in case they become a TA later in the year/UC Davis Career. CEE Students will attend the orientation on Monday, Sept. 21. 

    Get more information and register

  • Office of Graduate Studies Orientations
  • All students should complete Aggie 201. This online orientation can be viewed at your own pace and provides a resource and services overview for new graduate students. It is recommended to finish this by the start of instruction. 

    Students are also encouraged to explore the below resources:

    • Graduate Studies Resource Fair

    • Holistic U

    • Fall Involvement Fair

    • International Graduate Student Orientation (IGSO)

    • Student Parent Orientation

  • Sexual Violence and Harassment, Anti-Discrimination, and Prevention (SHAPE) training 
  • All new incoming students (undergraduate, graduate and professional) to complete mandatory Sexual Violence and Harassment, Anti-Discrimination, and Prevention (SHAPE) training* within the first six weeks of instruction or start of program. 

    Get more information on SHAPE